I've been watching this thread for a while, and feel compelled to respond. I have 2 different scenarios for you :

1) Some of you are making it sound like shooting a compound is "easy" and that everyone should be marksmen if they resort to using equipment that is so simple to shoot accurately. Well, I shot in an indoor league this winter after a 6yr break from competition. If it's so darned easy, how come only about 10 people out of 120 or so in the league managed to shoot 300's (NFAA 5-spot 300 round / 60 arrows at 20yds). Not only that, but some very good bowhunters were happy to be shooting in the 260 to 280 range. A 260 means they missed the 3+" bullseye 40 times out of 60 (assuming they kept their misses in the 4-ring!) at 20yds, indoors, perfect lighting, in street clothes. Doesn't sound too "easy" to me!!!

2) Now on the other hand, I haven't shot my target bow for 6yrs after getting fed up with the competition side of things. I don't shoot year round and probably average once per week for 2-3 months during the summer and then maybe 3 times per week for a month prior to the season with my hunting bow. I picked up my target bow and shot one practice round the weekend before league just to make sure I could even shoot 60 arrows! (I hadn't shot a bow at all since the end of October) By the 3rd week of the league with no practice in between I shot a 300 with 48 X's. So with essentially NO practice I was in the top 10 out of 120 other bowhunters / archers. So there is something to be said for "natural ability".

When I first started in archery 18yrs ago (I was 20 at the time), I lived and breathed it. I shot every chance I got, bowhunted, shot 3D, shot indoor league and traveled to 3D and indoor tournaments all over Vt, NY and New England, including state and New England regional championships. I would even start practicing for indoor leagues during rifle season since the indoor range was empty! I fell firmly in the camp that if you didn't shoot 12 months out of the year you shouldn't be hunting.

Now I'm no longer young and single with unlimited time to devote to archery. I have a 4yr old son and a wife, both of whom I actually enjoy spending time with. I feel that I practice plenty to be proficient but archery just doesn't consume me like it once did. The enjoyment I get out of bowhunting is probably MORE than it was when I was shooting constantly because I was more of an archer than hunter. I don't feel any less prepared now than I did then come opening morning, and I certainly DON'T believe that one must shoot year round in order to bowhunt!

.... Shockwave